Severe eczema herpeticum in an adult patient with atopic dermatitis following herbal medicine and acupuncture

Abstract

© 2019 Korean Dermatological Association. All rights reserved.Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic, relapsing skin disorder, and many patients with atopic dermatitis use complementary and alternative medicine instead of consulting a certified dermatologist. Herein, we report the case of a 38-year-old woman with severe eczema herpeticum who had been treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture for her atopic dermatitis. Herbal medicine and acupuncture are the most frequent types of alternative medicine that Korean patients rely on. However, the effectiveness of these treatments in atopic dermatitis remains unclear as there is a great lack of scientific evidence supporting it. As atopic dermatitis can cause potentially fatal secondary infections such as eczema herpeticum, dermatologists should put great effort into communicating with and educating the patients and in guiding them to choose the most appropriate treatment plan for managing their atopic dermatitis.